1941 State of the Union Address
Roosevelt addressing Congress in 1941, either in his 'Four Freedoms' or 'Day of Infamy' speech | |
| Date | January 6, 1941 |
|---|---|
| Venue | House Chamber, United States Capitol |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Type | State of the Union Address |
| Participants | Franklin D. Roosevelt John Nance Garner Sam Rayburn |
| Previous | 1940 State of the Union Address |
| Next | 1942 State of the Union Address |
The 1941 State of the Union address, also known as the Four Freedoms Speech, was delivered by Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States, on January 6, 1941 to the 77th Congress. In it, Roosevelt warned of unprecedented global threats from the Axis powers of World War II and introduced his vision of the Four Freedoms: Freedom of speech and expression, Freedom of worship, Freedom from want, and Freedom from fear.
Roosevelt called for expanded defense production and Lend-Lease aid to nations resisting aggression, asserting the U.S. role as the "arsenal of democracy." Domestically, he advocated for increased taxation to fund defense, unemployment insurance, and economic reforms.
The address became a defining moment in U.S. foreign policy, reinforcing the nation's commitment to democracy and influencing post-war frameworks like the Atlantic Charter.